Folding leg table



' Nov. 5, 1935. c RAY 2,019,932

FOLDING LEG TABLE Filed Jan. 28, 12355 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C'ar/ fl 3/ {Mm NW, 5, 1935. C H RAY 7 2,019,932

FOLDING LEG TABLE Filed Jan. 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES guises 'ATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding leg tables, and generally relates to improved construction for folding or unfolding the legs automatically, and for retaining the legs in their proper positions when either folded or unfolded.

The invention also has to do with improved construction whereby the folding or unfolding of one of the'legs will bring about a like operation of the remaining legs. The invention in addition concerns itself with a leg actuating mechanism which when the legs are unfolded serves to brace the legs, holding them rigidly and preventing wobbling, also securely holding the legs in folded position after they have been so folded.

l5 My invention is particularly applicable to tables considerable difficulty has been experienced from the fact that they have a tendency to become loose and wobbly in their operating parts, this by reason of the fact that in order to make such tables foldable to a small space it has been necessary to make their operating parts, as for instance the leg hinge, of light material, and as a I consequence such tables soon become inoperative or otherwise defective. A peculiar and very pertinent feature of the present invention is the fact that the construction and operation thereof permits the use of substantial operating parts, thereby eliminating the danger of breakage to a great extent, at the same time in nowise lessening its adaptability to be folded to occupy an extremely small space.

In order to more fully comprehend my invention, its construction, and the object attained thereby, recourse is had to the following detailed description and its accompanying and complementary drawings wherein the invention is completely and carefully illustrated.

In the drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown, of which Figure 1 shows it in perspective in what I choose to call an unfolded position. Figure 2 is an inverted plan view of the table with the legs folded. Particular attention is directed to this figure as it will be seen that the legs fold in opposite pairs from the corners of the table toward the center, one pair resting on the other. Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation of a portion of the table top and a portion of one leg. This illustrates the hinge mechanism supporting the legs of the table, also the 5 toggle link which operates the leg. Figure 4 is a perspective of one portion of the leg hinging and supporting mechanism. Figure 5 is a perspective of the other portion of the leg hinging mechanism. Figure 6 is an inverted plan View of 10 the table. In this view the table is shown with g the legs unfolded. This view also illustrates the toggle mechanism which is positioned at the center of the table top. Figure 7 is a plan View of the toggle mechanism. This View illustrates the 15 mechanism in one stage of the operation of closing or folding the table legs. Figure 8 is similar to Figure '7 and shows the operation of folding the legs advanced beyond the stage shown in the previous figure. go In the drawings, the numeral l indicates a table top or bed which is supplied with a supporting ledge 2 on the underside, which ledge runs continuous with the edge of the table. Secured in each corner of the ledge are the angle bracing g5 and hinge members 3 having screw holes 4 for the insertions of suitable fastening elements to secure them in place. Each angle member is 7 provided with two hinge leaves 5 provided with pivot or pin holes 6. Pivotally connected to the 30 leaves are the channel like leg supporting members or leaves 1 provided with pivot or pin holes 8. Pin 9 lodged in both pin holes provides means for pivoting member I with regard to member 3. The member I is provided with a number of fastening holes H] for the reception of screws or other suitable fastening means for fastening the upper ends of table legs to the leaves 1. At this time, inorder to aid in further description of the invention, it may be well to designate the channel 40 side of the member I the inner side, and the opposite side, the outer side. Projecting from the outer side of member i at or well toward its unpivoted end is a lug or ear I I provided with a pin or pivot aperture or bearing l2. tion disclosed, there are four members 3 and four members I. The members 3 are all alike and interchangeable, and the same is true of members I. The members 3 in addition to functioning as hinge members, also serve as braces 50 and securing means for the ledge 2, especially securing the intersecting ends thereof together. Tothe members 1 are mounted legs, two legs is situated diagonally from each other and two legs l4 likewise situated diagonally from one an- 55 In the construc- 45 clockwise.

other. It will be noted that the legs I3 are secured to the inner sides of the members I and the legs I 4 to the outer sides. The purpose for so mounting the legs will be presently explained.

Situated in the center of the underside of the table top are two toggle or actuating members I5 and I6. These are pivotally mounted to the top by means of a pin or bearing or other suitable pivoting member I! positioned at their midsections. One of these members is mounted above the other as will be seen. These members under ordinary circumstances would be free to rotate on their joint pivot except for the following construction. which limits rotativc movement with regard to one another. This construction consists of two pins I8, one situated each side of the center pivot, which project from the member I5 into corresponding arcuate slots IS in the member It, so that there is a limited freedom of movement with regard to the two members, and they are compelled to rotate together when these pins engage corresponding ends of the slots.

Pivotally connected by pins 2I to the ends of the members I5 are the 'ends of links 29, their other ends being connected pivotally to two diagonally opposing members 'I by means of pins 22 passing through pivot hole or bearing of lug II. In a like manner, by means of pins 23, the ends of links 24 are connected to the ends of the members I6, the opposite ends of the links being connected by means of pins 25 to the pivot bearing I2 of the remaining members I. Thus it will be seen that as the members I5 and I6 are rotated upon their common axis or pivot the legs I3 and I4 will either fold or unfold. This operation can be readily seen upon examination of Figures 2, 6, '7 and 8 the latter three figures showing the operation of closing the legs. In these views the members I5 and I6 are rotating However a detailed description of the operation of opening and closing the legs will be given later.

In conjunction with the members I5 and I6, there is provided means for holding them stationary or against movement when the legs are opened or closed. Such means must have sufiicient rigidity to maintain the legs normally in either of the positions, at the same time possessing sufiicient yieldability to permit manual manipulation to alter the position of the legs, that is to say, fold the legs if unfolded, and vice versa, This means is used in conjunction with members I5 and I6. As will be noted the latter members have a limited rotation, the ends thereof to which the links 20 and 24 are connected, movable through an arc of approximately ninety degrees first in one du'ection and then in the opposite direction in accordance with the folding or unfolding of the table legs as the case may be. The means referred to consists of the coiled spring 26 which has a sleeve 21 secured to one end, and which sleeve is pivoted to the top I by means of a pivotal member 28. Operating within the con volutions of the spring is a bar 29 which has a portion secured to the spring at the point indicated by the numeral 30. as the springs are compressed and expanded the bar 29 moves back and forth within the convolutions of the spring. The bars 29 each have a gooseneck portion 3I exterior to the spring. There are two springs and cooperating bars, the end of the gooseneck of one is pivotally secured to an end of member I5, and the end of the other gooseneck is secured to one end of member I6, pins 32 being used for this purpose. The goose- It will be seen that necks are offsetting portions of the bars whose purpose is to clear or avoid contact with the members I5 and I6, and the members 20 and 24 as will be readily understood upon examination of Figures 2 and 8.

I will now describe the operation of my invention. In this the description will be confined to Figures 2, 6, 7 and 8. Figure 6 shows the legs unfolded or in position to support the top, while Figure 2 shows the legs in folded position. In ex- 10 amining the latter figure it will be seen that legs I3 are positioned beneath legs I 4, and in order that they shall properly lap they have been attached to the inner faces of the members I, while the overlying legs have been attached to the outer 15 faces. In Figure 6 the legs are opened or unfolded, and in order to close or fold them the members I5 and I6 are rotated clockwise. However, in this clockwise rotation the member I5 will gain a little over the member I6 preceding it 20 somewhat until the pins I8 engage the ends of the notches I9 in the direction of travel. This assures that legs I3 will precede legs I 4 in the folding operation in order that they shall be positioned beneath such legs when the operation is 25 completed. As the members continue to rotate in unison the springs 26 are more and more compressed by reason of the lessening of distance between pivots 28 and 32 until a point is reached where such compression ceases, thereafter they 30 expand until normal and are in the position shown in Figure 2. As the members I5 and I6 rotate they of course pull on links 20 a-nd'24 thereby folding or closing the legs of the table, the legs I3 preceding legs I4 as heretofore explained. 35 Figure '7 shows the commencement of the folding operation wherein the member I5 gains over I6, and Figure 8 shows the movement considerably progressed. The latter view also illustrates how gooseneck 3I avoids obstructing the ends of mem- 40 bers I5 and I6. After the springs have reached the point of their greatest compression, they then begin to expand to normal, the normal condition being that in which the legs are either closed or open, in the operation being described, closed. 5 After both members I5 and I6 have traveled approximately ninety degrees the legs come to rest, the springs at normal condition or position. In this condition it will be necessary to compress springs 26 in order to open or unfold the legs, 50 they consequently act to hold the legs in folded condition. And for the same reason the springs serve to hold the legs in unfolded condition when they are in that position. After the legs I3 have come to rest, the legs I4 fold thereon, and the 55 members I5 and I6 resume normal positions with regard to each other, with the pins I8 in the ends of the slots I9 as shown in Figure 8.

The unfolding of the legs is the reverse of the operation just described. However, in order that 60 there will be no dead centers in the action of the links 2!! and 24 upon members I, the lugs II are provided, thus ensuring when the members I5 and I6 are operated the legs will unfold properly.

To prevent wobbling of the members I5 and I6 55 and for other purposes which will be readily evident suitable bearings are provided on those members for traveling or riding upon the undersurface of the top I, such as a small boss 33.

Having described my invention, I claim- 70 1. A folding leg table, comprising a top having legs pivotally mounted to fold andunfold at each corner, the legs at opposite corners pivoting toward each other and toward the center of the ta.- ble, a pair of toggle members mounted upon a common pivot, said toggle members having a connection permitting a limited relative movement, links pivotally connecting the ends of each toggle member to legs at opposite corners of the table top, and spring controlled members controlling the movement of the toggle members first in one direction and then in the opposite.

2. A folding leg table, comprising a top having legs pivotally mounted to fold and unfold at each corner, the legs at opposite corners pivoting toward each other and toward the center of the table, links connected to the table legs, an actuating mechanism consisting of a pair of toggle members mutually pivoted to the table top to which the links are connected, said actuating mechanism causing the links to fold and unfold the table legs, and construction in the actuating mechanism providing for a limited relative movement between the toggle members whereby folding or unfolding of certain of the legs is respectively hastened or delayed with regard to similar action of the remaining legs.

3. A folding leg table, comprising a top having legs pivot-ally mounted to fold and unfold at each corner, the legs at opposite corners pivoting toward each other and toward the center of the table, links each having one end connected to a table leg, an actuating mechanism consisting of two actuating members to which the links have their other ends connected and from which they radiate, said actuating mechanism controlling and operating the folding and unfolding of the legs, and construction incorporated in the actuating mechanism providing for a limited relative movement between the actuating members whereby folding or unfolding of certain legs is respectively hastened or delayed with regard to similar action of the remaining legs.

4. A folding leg table, comprising a top having legs pivotally mounted to fold and unfold to and from the center of the top, a toggle mechanism consisting of two actuating members pivotally connected to the underside of the top, means connecting the toggle mechanism with the legs, said toggle mechanism operable to fold and unfold the table legs, and construction incorporated in the toggle mechanism providing for limited relative movement between the actuating members which when said toggle mechanism is operated causes certain legs to lag or hasten respectively accordingly as the legs are folded or unfolded.

5. A folding leg table, comprising a top having legs pivotally mounted to fold and unfold to and from the center of the top, a toggle mechanism consisting of two actuating members pivotally connected to the underside of the top, means connecting the toggle mechanism with the legs, said toggle mechanism operable to fold and unfold the table legs, spring controlled means operating to control the operation of the toggle mechanism, and construction providing for limited relative movement between the actuating members incorporated in the toggle mechanism which when said toggle mechanism is operated causes certain legs to lag or hasten respectively accordingly as the legs are folded and unfolded.

6. A folding leg table, comprising a top, legs pivotally mounted at the corners andarranged to fold diagonally across the top, a pair of toggle members having a common pivotal mounting,

links connecting each toggle member to a pair of diagonally positioned legs, said toggle members when rotated in one direction causing the legs to fold, and when rotated in the opposite direction to unfold, a loose connection between the two toggle members providing for a limited relative movement therebetween which causes one pair of legs to precede the other pair in the folding operation and to lag in the unfolding operation, and spring controlled means connected to each toggle member operating to hold them steady when the legs are either in folded or unfolded position.

'7.'A folding leg table, comprising a top, legs pivotally mounted at the corners and arranged to fold diagonally across the top, a pair of toggle members having a common pivotal mounting, links connecting each toggle member to a pair of diagonally positioned legs, said toggle members when rotated in one direction causing the legs to fold and when rotated in the opposite direction to unfold, and a connection between the toggle members providing for a limited relative movement therebetween which causes one pair of legs to precede the other pair in the folding operation and to lag in the unfolding operation. V

8. A folding leg table, comprising a top, legs pivotally mounted at the corners and arranged to fold diagonally across the top, a pair of toggle members having a common pivotal mounting, links connecting each toggle member to a pair of diagonally positioned legs, said toggle members when rotated in one direction causing the legs to fold and when rotated in the opposite direction to unfold, and construction, consisting of arcuate slots in one of the toggle members and pins projecting from the other toggle memher into said slot-s, which operates to cause one pair of legs to precede the other pair in the folding operation and to lag in the unfolding operation.

9. A folding leg table, comprising a top, legs pivotally mounted at the corners and arranged to fold diagonally across the top, a pair of toggle members having a common pivotal mounting, links connecting each toggle member to a pair of diagonally positioned legs, said toggle members when rotated in one direction causing the legs to fold and when rotated in the opposite direction to unfold, and a loose connection between the two toggle members which operates to cause one pair of legs to precede the other pair in the folding operation and to lag in the unfolding operation.

CARL H. RAY. 

